GMCH Nagpur cancer hospital to be completed within 2 years: Medical Education minister

Nagpur: Medical education minister Girish Mahajan has assured that the construction of a cancer hospital and research centre attached to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) is going to be completed in the next one and a half years. 

This came when the BJP city president Pravin Datke brought up the topic of the excessive delay in the construction of the proposed hospital and research centre for cancer patients at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in this area in the legislative council. 

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the hospital was approved about three years ago, and the tendering procedure was finished as well. The construction of a cancer hospital in GMCH Nagpur got halted by the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) last year after the medical education department failed to provide the initial funds of Rs 20 crore.

The central government approved the proposal to establish this cancer hospital in 2012. In 2017, the court directed the hospital to be set up within two years. In 2019, The government gave administrative approval of Rs 76 crore for construction and Rs 23 crore for equipment purchase. The responsibility for construction was given to Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA). NMRDA invited tenders and sought Rs 20 crore from the medical education department for the first phase in 2021 and the project has been stopped by NMRDA as no funds were sanctioned despite repeated requests and reminders. 

Datke brought up the problem during the call attention motion, claiming that despite the project being approved for the four acres of GMCH property with 100 beds, little advancement had been made for the previous three years. According to him, the Vidarbha area and neighbouring states' cancer patients had to face hardships as they are still not getting access to the facility. According to representatives from the Medical Education Department, the NIT was given the assignment to construct the cancer hospital, but it eventually abandoned the project after running out of money, reports TOI.

Commenting on the current situation of the project, the Medical education minister Girish Mahajan has assured the Upper House that the government would make necessary arrangements to ensure the availability of proper equipment in the next two and half months so that the entire project and its construction work can be done within one and a half year. 

As per a recent media report by Times of India, while addressing the issue minister Girish Mahajan stated, "The tender process was started in 2021. However, the work could not be progressed due to various reasons. After this, a nine-member committee was constituted in this regard. After their report, the work was taken up through the Medical Education Department. The construction of the hospital through the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) will be completed at the earliest. Also, the machinery will be purchased immediately."

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